Florida: More Pilot Whales Found Dead

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 23, 2014

Boaters discovered 25 dead pilot whales off the southwest coast on Thursday, raising the death toll to 33. The whales were found on Kice Island, south of Naples and near Marco Island, said Blair Mase, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stranding coordinator. They appeared to have been there for about a day, and were part of a pod first seen Sunday. The whales were found two days after eight others were found dead near Lovers Key, 40 miles north. The deaths also come about a month after more than 50 whales were found stranded in the Everglades. The cause of death has not been determined. Pilot whales are susceptible to mass strandings because they are often unwilling to leave even one sick whale behind. Ms. Mase said the number of strandings in the last year is high.